Iga Swiatek ends uncertainty around Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2024 participation
Iga Swiatek's 2024 season is set to extend beyond the WTA Finals as she has confirmed her participation at this year's Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The tournament will be played in Malaga, Spain, from November 13 to 20.
Iga Swiatek took to social media on 22 October to announce that she will be part of Poland's contingent at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The World No. 2 was not named in the original Polish line-up but will be joining Magdalena Frech, Magda Linette, Maja Chwalinska, and Katarzyna Kawa, on the team led by Dawid Celt.
The 22-year-old expressed pride while confirming that she will represent her nation at the prestigious tournament and hoped to give her best in Malaga. Iga Swiatek wrote in her post,
"See you in Malaga! I’m happy to announce that I will play in the BJKC Finals. I’m glad that I’ll play for my country and proudly represent Poland. Together with team Poland we will give our best on the court. I hope you’ll watch and support us. See you soon!" (translated from Polish).
Poland will be in search of its maiden Billie Jean King Cup title after reaching the Finals stage for a third consecutive year.
Swiatek was integral to Poland's successful qualifying campaign for the 2024 Billie Jean Cup Finals. She played two singles matches against Switerzland in April, defeating Simona Waltert and Celine Naef in straight sets, helping Poland record a thumping 4-0 win.
Poland will now go up against hosts Spain for a quarterfinal spot in the tournament. The best-of-three match will take place on November 13. If Swiatek is chosen to play the singles tie, she is expected to face Spain's headliner Paula Badosa. Team Spain will also feature Jessica Bouzas Maniero, Cristina Bucsa, Nuria Parrizas Diaz, and Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Iga Swiatek represented Poland at 2024 Olympics and the United Cup
Iga Swiatek has represented Poland previously at international competitions and most recently played for her country at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The five-time Grand Slam champion played the Summer Olympics for the second time in her career this year and took home the women's singles bronze medal, Poland’s first tennis medal at any Summer Games.
Swiatek was the top seed at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the venue where she won four French Open titles, the Pole defeated Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, France's Diane Parry, China's Wang Xiyu, and USA's Danielle Collins, before losing to China's Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals. Swiatek bettered Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova to finish third in the tournament.
Swiatek also played for Poland at the two editions of the United Cup, leading the team to the semifinals in 2023 and a runner-up finish in 2024. She will once again wear the red and white at the 2025 United Cup alongside Hubert Hurkacz, Maja Chwalinska, Kamil Majchrzak, Jan Zielinski, and Alicja Rosolska.